Warframe

From the studio that co-created the Unreal series comes a free-to-play third-person shooter pitting a group of superhuman warriors (in advanced exo-armor systems known as "Warframes") against a hostile universe.

Overview

Warframe is a free-to-play sci-fi fantasy third-person shooter developed and released by Digital Extremes for the PC on March 25, 2013. It was later ported to both the PlayStation 4 (on November 15, 2013) and Xbox One (on September 2, 2014). A Nintendo Switch version, developed by Panic Button, was announced at TennoCon 2018.

Built on the original concept for the studio's earlier 2008 game Dark Sector, Warframe is set in a far future where the universe is dominated between three factions: the Grineer (a militaristic empire of human clones), the Corpus (a highly-technological merchant cult), and the Infested (those mutated by techno-organic parasites). Players control a member of the Tenno: descendants of an ancient civilization that have awaken from cryostasis to a hostile universe.

Under guidance from a mysterious figure known as The Lotus, players are outfitted with an advanced exo-armor system (known as a Warframe) that give them superhuman mobility, regenerative shields, and a unique set of supernatural abilities (similar to Heroes in MOBAs). While the game is usually played in a four-player co-operative setting, later updates added competitive PvP matchmaking support (with up to eight players in a single match).

Since its original closed beta release (on October 25, 2012), the game has been under continuous development, with over 20 major content updates (each with numerous smaller updates) that added new gameplay systems, Warframes, weapons, enemies, cosmetics, and other content. The game is supported with a microtransaction system (where players purchase an in-game currency known as Platinum).

Gameplay

Warframe is a third person, objective-based, loot driven shooter. Players collect materials and weapon upgrades (called "Mods") as they complete missions and progress through a map of the solar system. Players may harness the powers of their Warframe and weapons in order to clear hordes of enemies in the PvE maps, or against each other in the specialized PvP mode. Players also have access to public spaces known as Relays where they may interact, trade, or practice their skills.

Mod System

Warframe's Mod system allows for players to customize the various aspects of their equipment, which comes with 8-10 slots for the card-like mods that can be upgraded as the player progresses through the game. Character mods include things like enhanced health, damage resistances, and ability modifications. Weapon mods are typically focused on damage types, but can also include silent firing, magazine changes, and unique effects during battle. Likewise, Warframe mods focus on augmenting a Warframe's stats and main four abilities with enhanced range, duration, power and mobility.

Movement System

Warframe features an unique parkour movement system that is made up by chaining and combining several different action maneuvers together into a series of fluid flowing movements.These maneuvers include but are not limited to the ability to perform slides, dodge rolls, backflips and handsprings, divekicks and the ability to glide through the air. Combining basic maneuvers creates more advanced movement options such as Bullet Jumping and can be further used in tandem with other unique maneuvers such as Aim gliding to propel through the air through great vertical and horizontal distances. The movement system was originally inspired by a well beloved movement exploit known as “Zoren Coptering” within the player base that then developers embraced when redesigning the movement in game. Parkour 2.0 as it was known was introduced in Update 17.

Focus System

An ability system unlocked after completing the game's cinematic quest lines the "Second Dream" and "The War Within". Focus introduces new game mechanics and abilities to game that are critical for playing the game's later content such as Eidolon Hunts, and Kuva Extraction.

Story

Tenno, warriors of blades, guns and masters of the Warframe armor were left drifting in the ruins of an old war are now needed again to maintain the balance of powers in the solar system. You were rescued from your cryostasis chamber by the Lotus. Lotus will guide you and teach you the ways of the Warframe and their secret powers.

Tenno

The descendants of an ancient mystical civilization from the Orokin era on Earth. Stored in their cryopods for centuries, they are awakened into new conflict were they must fight and maintain balance between several warring factions. Their memories have faded but their ability to use a gun, sword and exo-armor have not. The historic values of the Tenno are chivalry and discipline but they may not all be so in this new war as they emerge into this unfamiliar world. They stand united against common foes, loyal to only each other. Cinematic story quests found deeper in game reveal the origins of the Tenno and the true nature of the Warframe universe.

Grineer

Vast in numbers from cloning technology, the Grineer seek to expand their vile empire from Earth outward and control the whole solar system. They took over Earth by their numbers alone, lead by the mysterious Twin Queens. While high in power, the Grineer army is decaying. The constant cloning is increasingly making them more primitive. The Grineer's ideology of enormous hate and discrimination of anything not like them drives them to the face of inevitable dissolution.

Corpus

The Corpus are a conglomeration of commercial interests unified by their greed. They control the entire supply chain of goods in the Solar System, and see Orokin artifacts as profit to exploit it at any cost. Corpus are rarely seen by others and are better known for their robot proxies that serve them. They have taken the social structure from ancient mercantile guilds from the old Earth.

Infested

The Infested are those who have succumbed to the mysterious Technocyte virus, which consumes and twists flesh towards an unknown goal. The virus afflicts all it comes in contact with, save for the Tenno and their Warframes. While animalistic, there seems to be some kind of larger coordination in the plague's action.

Orokin Empire

The Orokin Empire is a lost civilization that ruled over the solar system in an era known as the Orokin Era that has long passed. When Earth became no longer environmentally habitable the Orokin were one of the first humanoid factions to ventured into space and began colonizing the rest of the solar system. The Orokin eventually asserted dominance over the system as they grew into a empire. They developed technological marvels such as the Solar Rails and were able to terraform much of the Solar System, even making Earth habitable once again. The Orokin however then went to war with a machine race known as the Sentients, in which during that time developed the tennocyte and the Warframes to combat the Sentients. Now the Orokin have not been seen for generations, and are presumed to have died out. However, their technology and legacy forever continues to shape the Warframe universe.

Sentients

The Sentients are a race of hive-mind machines who were the greatest threat to the Orokin Empire.Originally developed by the Orokin, the Sentients first began as nothing more than expendable worker drones, mindless automatons sent to scour into the solar system, and tasked with the construction of the Empire’s faster-than-light travel system, the Solar Rails Network. Overtime the machines rapidly adapted and evolved learning not only to replicate themselves but built more complex terraforming machines of themselves until they inadvertently gained sentience and went to war with their creators.The sentients are now fragmented, scattered from the Old War with the Orokin now centuries ago, yet a increasing number of them are returning and threatening the balance of the solar system. The Tenno are the only remaining warriors to oppose them.

Lotus

The Lotus is a single individual who guides the Tenno through their missions. She has great knowledge of the Warframes, their unique powers, and understanding of Orokin relics. After deactivating the cryostasis on the Tenno she uses this knowledge to lead the Tenno warriors in their fight.

Warframes

Current Warframe lineup as of Update 19.

A Warframe is an exo-armor that uses unique combative technology to create the ultimate weaponry. Each Warframe holds many mysterious powers and mastering one requires dedicated use.

As of Update 24, there are more than 37 unique Warframes for players to use. Each Warframe has a different spread of base stats such as Health and Sprint Speed, and each has four different abilities that can be used in battle. Warframes are highly customizable, using Mods to adjust the properties of the suits.

Some Warframes also have "Prime" variants, with enhanced stats and altered appearances compared to their standard counterparts.

Ash

Banshee

Frost

Ember

Excalibur

Loki

Mag

Nyx

Rhino

Saryn

Trinity

Volt

Vauban (added on May 17, 2013)

Nova (added on July 13, 2013)

Nekros (added on September 13, 2013)

Valkyr (added on November 20, 2013)

Oberon (added on December 19, 2013)

Zephyr (added on February 5, 2014)

Hydroid (added on April 9, 2014)

Mirage (added on July 18, 2014)

Limbo (added on October 24, 2014)

Mesa (added on November 27, 2014)

Chroma (added on March 19, 2015)

Equinox (added on July 31, 2015)

Atlas (added on October 1, 2015)

Wukong (added on November 25, 2015)

Ivara (added on December 3, 2015)

Nezha (added on December 16, 2015)

Inaros (added on March 4, 2016)

Titania (added on August 19, 2016)

Nidus (added on December 22, 2016)

Octavia (added on March 24, 2017)

Harrow (added on June 29, 2017)

Gara (added on October 12, 2017)

Khora (added on April 20, 2018)

Revenant (added on August 24, 2018)

Garuda (added November 8th, 2018)

Companions

A new addition to the game as of Update 7, Companions are mechanical or biological creatures that accompany you into missions to provide combat bonuses and additional firepower. As of Update 19, there are 14 different Companions to choose from, some having Prime variants similar to the Warframes. Companions also make use of the Mod system for additional customization.

Weapons

Warframes carry three weapons with them into missions. These consist of a Primary, a Secondary, and a Melee weapon. Weapons use the Mod system to enhance the different qualities of the weapons.

Weapons level up by using them in combat and by collecting yellow Affinity pickups. By leveling up, weapons gain new ranks that offer the ability to equip more mods.

New players start with a selection from MK1-variations of standard weapons. Additional weapons can be acquired either from crafting them from blueprints in the Forge or by purchasing them directly from the Marketplace.

Mastery Rank

Mastery is an in-game method of measuring a players cumulative skill by how many weapons, Warframes, and Companions have been fully ranked. Mastery Rank is used to lock players from certain advanced weapons and missions, and controls how many in-game trades a player may make in a day.

Cosmetics

Players can decorate and personalize their own personal quarters on their Oribter

Warframe features a growing number visual cosmetic customization options. Cosmetic options range from unique skins, and helmets for Warframes, Companion, and Operator to cosmetics for decorating and personalizing one's player ship and clan dojo with action figures, posters and furniture. While most cosmetic items are bought with the game's premium currency Platinum, some can be earn in game during special events, as well as acquired through the Twitch drop program.

Tennogen Program

Tennogen is a program started by Digital Extremes to allow creators to create and submit their own Warframe cosmetic skins via Steam Workshop. Players can vote and discuss which cosmetics made by the community they would like to see in the game. Once a Tennogen skin is approved and put into the game by Digital Extremes, part of the sales from that Tennogen skin goes to the creator. Unlike regular cosmetic items which are purchased using Platnium, Tennogen items are purchased in the Market directly with real world currency.

Founders Program, Prime Access, and the Prime Vault

The Founder's Program

In December 12, 2012 Digital Extremes introduced the Warframe Founders Program. For a limited time you could help the future of the game and get exclusive in-game items and privileges. All members recieved instant access to the beta, and depending on tier chosen, exclusive content.

In subsequent updates, this system has been turned into Prime Access and the Prime Vault. Prime Access is a rotating paid program that adds the latest Prime variants of Warframes, Weapons, and accessories to a player's account. Use of Prime Access provides instant access to these items in-game without the need to farm or build the items. While Warframes and Weapons can be farmed in-game, cosmetic accessories items are often exclusive to the Prime Access system.

Example Prime Access

The Prime Vault system was introduced on March 24th, 2016. This new system removed certain Primes from the game's loot rotation in order to add new items to loot tables. Similar to Prime access, the Vault is occasionally "opened" for approximately one month at a time, allowing players to either purchase or farm Vaulted items. Vaulted items are not removed from the player's inventory, only from the game's loot system.

Platinum

Platinum is the premium currency of Warframe. It can be used in trades, to instantly complete the build of an item in the Foundry, or to purchase items from the Marketplace. The Marketplace has items that can be purchased with either the freely earned Credits or Platinum. Certain items, mostly cosmetic, can only be purchased with Platinum

Platinum can currently be purchased in a variety of tiers:

Platinum Points

USD

2100 Pt (1500 + 600 Bonus Pt)

$99.99

1000 Pt (750 + 250 Bonus Pt)

$49.99

570 Pt (450 + 120 Bonus Pt)

$29.99

170 Pt (150 + 20 Bonus Pt)

$9.99

75 Pt

$4.99

These prices are subject to change.

System Requirements

OS: Windows XP SP 3 or higher

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo e6400 or AMD Athlon x64 4000+

Memory: 2 GB RAM

Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT or ATI Radeon HD 3600

DirectX®: 9.0c

Hard Drive: 2 GB HD space

Other Requirements: Broadband Internet connection

For DirectX11:

OS: Windows Vista SP2 or higher

Graphics: AMD 5000 series or Nvidia 400 series or higher

To use Nvidia APEX PhysX:

Nvidia Graphics Card 4XX Series or newer with 1G of video RAM

story quests that may be found after many hours of playtime that may put new and interesting spins on the nature of the Wf universe